New Legislation Will Improve Medicare Access and Affordability for Low-Income New Yorkers

Under new legislation, New York will soon use eligibility information from the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program, commonly known as Extra Help, to automate Medicare Savings Program (MSP) enrollment. This critical change will help more older adults and people with disabilities connect with these vital benefits.

Combined, these… [allow] enrollees to maintain Medicare coverage, afford medications, and better meet daily living expenses like food and housing.

The MSP provides a financial lifeline for eligible individuals by paying their Medicare Part B premiums ($174.70 per month in 2024), while Extra Help saves enrollees an estimated $5,900 per year. Combined, these programs make health care costs more manageable, allowing enrollees to maintain Medicare coverage, afford medications, and better meet daily living expenses like food and housing.

Increasing MSP Access, Efficiency, and Equity

Applying for the MSP has historically been a complicated and time-consuming process. Using existing information from Extra Help applications will help reduce those burdens for New Yorkers and aligns with recent federal efforts to streamline MSP access nationwide. This modernized approach is expected to improve the beneficiary experience while easing administrative demands on Medicaid offices and other agencies tasked with processing the benefits—advancing efficiency and equity systemwide.

These enrollment updates build on prior advances. Starting January 1, 2023, New York expanded MSP eligibility, and in 2024, the income limits increased to $2,355 per month for individuals and $3,189 per month for couples, with no asset limits. Recently, Governor Hochul announced that nearly one million New Yorkers are now enrolled in the benefit, boosting health outcomes and financial security. The auto-enrollment changes will take effect in 2026.

MSP Enrollment Assistance

The Medicare Rights Center encourages anyone who thinks they might qualify for the MSP to explore their eligibility and seek assistance. Help is available through the Medicare Rights Center helpline at 800-333-4114, at www.medicareinteractive.org/mspny, or through the State Health Insurance Program.

Medicare Rights and Legislators Celebrate Increased Access

The Medicare Rights Center applauds Governor Hochul, sponsors Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and Senator Cordell Cleare, and members of the New York State Legislature for enacting this essential legislation:

“Building upon the Medicare Savings Program expansion by automating enrollment is a necessary step toward ensuring that New Yorkers who need this assistance can get it,” said Fred Riccardi, president of the Medicare Rights Center. “This legislation will bring relief to many who might otherwise struggle with a cumbersome application process or remain unaware of the MSP.”

This legislation will create an easier overall enrollment process, increase enrollment, and most importantly, help our seniors save money on health care.

New York Assemblywoman Amy Paulin

“This legislation will create an easier overall enrollment process, increase enrollment, and most importantly, help our seniors save money on health care,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “I thank my partner in the State Senate, Senator Cordell Cleare, for her work to pass this bill in the Senate, Governor Hochul for signing this bill into law, and the Medicare Rights Center for their staunch advocacy.”

This legislation helps to facilitate direct and robust enrollment of New Yorkers to ensure that every person eligible can take advantage of this program.

New York State Senator Cordell Cleare

State Senator Cordell Cleare, Chair of the Senate Aging Committee, stated: “The Medicare Savings Program has clear benefits that every Older New Yorker is entitled to, including assistance in paying for prescription drugs, deductibles, premiums, and wellness expenditures. This legislation helps to facilitate direct and robust enrollment of New Yorkers to ensure that every person eligible can take advantage of this program.”

Read our press release.

Learn more about the MSP and Extra Help.